First-half run pushes Cavaliers past Hornets, 61-46

Posted: Friday, January 14, 2005

It was obvious Friday night Calvary Baptist's basketball team needs to work on holding big leads.

Of course, that's a nice problem to have.

The Cavaliers saw their 26-point advantage slip to 10 in less than eight minutes of the second half, but regrouped to defeat visiting Savannah Country Day, 61-46, before an overflow crowd at Calvary's gym.

"You always know the team behind is going to make a push," Cavs coach Jason Shell said. "We got a little complacent."

But Calvary (12-5, 5-2 Region 3-A) had some breathing room. The Cavaliers built a 34-13 halftime lead by holding the Hornets to one field goal in a span of 12:21.

Meanwhile, six different Calvary players scored during the 23-6 spurt that ultimately proved to be decisive.

"When you can't put it in the basket, you can't win," SCD coach Mike Harner said. "We had wide-open shots. We just didn't make them."

"This game has been in our heads all week," Dobbs said. "It's a crosstown rivalry and a region rivalry, so we were ready to play."

And when Country Day fought back, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Dobbs regained control for his teammates by scoring six points in a 9-2 spurt, which turned a 46-36 lead with 5:02 left into a comfortable 55-38 advantage less than two minutes later.

Maybe a year ago, the Cavaliers, who won only five games, would have found a way to lose. Maybe, they wouldn't have had a 26-point advantage to blow.

"This year, we're playing more as a team," Dobbs said. "We're beginning to use all our talent."

It took awhile, but Country Day (2-10, 1-6 Region 3-A) displayed a gritty determination that should help it win games down the stretch.

Guard Harrison Hunter had 14 of his team-high 19 points in the second half. Teammate Jack Baker added 11, nine coming in the second half.

Hunter and Baker combined for 14 points during the Hornets' 18-2 run beginning midway through the third quarter.

No team had beaten SCD by more than 17 points this season. (Class AAA South Effingham beat the Hornets 54-37 Jan. 4.)

Against Calvary, Country Day trailed by 17 less than 13 minutes into the game.

"I was proud of the kids," Harner said. "We sucked it up, but we have to start out better."

On the other hand, the Cavaliers probably wouldn't mind taking their chances with a 26-point lead against anyone in Region 3-A.